Joseph enright



UNITED STATES 1 PATENT OFFICE,

JOSEPH ENRIGHT, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

TRACTION-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,530, dated April 24, 1883.

Application filed December 7, 1882. Model.)

1 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosEPH ENRIGHT, of San Jose, Santa Clara county, State of Galifornia, have invented new and useful Imblocks;

provements in Steam Road-Engine Traction- Wheels; and I do hereby declare the following description and accompanying drawings sutficieutto enable any person skilled in the art or science to which they most nearly appertain to make and use my said invention without further invention or experiment.

This invention consists in a traction-wheel having at its periphery and on one edge thereof an inwardly-projected flange, an elastic removable block placed on the perimeter of the wheel, a shield adapted to be placed over the elastic block and engaged with thein wardly-projected flange, and removable clamps arranged on the edge of the perimeter of the wheel, opposite to the inwardly projected flange, and so that they engage and hold the ends of the shields placed over the elastic It consists, further,in the combination, in the wheel having spokes arranged at right angles to the hub thereof, of a removable axlebox having a circular flange surrounding and projecting at right angles to the inner end thereof and abutted against the inner ends of the spokes.

Itconsists,further, in the construction of the perimeter of the wheel with a series of transverse partitions which are projected outward in radial lines, and which are so arranged as to divide the perimeterinto narrow chambers,

which are adapted to hold small detached elastic blocks, which are held in place by an overlaid metallic shield or retaining-clamp.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a wheel constructed according to my invention, a small portion of the perimeter of which is broken away to show the partitions and the elastic blocks. Fig.2 shows the wheel partially broken away on vertical line :12, Fig. 1. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are detail views of the removable shield and the removable clamps. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the axle-box and Fig. 7 is a plan of a small portion of the perimeter of the wheel, having the shields or elastic blocks removed. Fig. 8 shows the hub, and Fig t) is a cross-section of one of the spokes. I

A is the wheel, composed of the hub F, the

| outer end plate, H, the inner spokes, G, the peripheral cross-plate or covering A, affixed on the ends of the spokes G and to the end plate, H, all constructed and adapted to receive the several parts, hereinafter fully described.

The spokes G are placed at the inner end of thehub, and project outward at right angles thereto, and on their outer ends I affix a cirsecurely in place.

Theend plate, H, is placed at the outer end of the hub, and extends outward parallel with the spokes G. The end plate, H, is made of a solid piece of metal, so that it completely closes in the outer side of the wheel. 'Near the periphery, and on the innerside of the end plate, H, I secure an angle-iron, H. The angle-iron H extends around the wheel, and is arranged opposite to and in the same plane with the angle-iron G. The peripheral cross-plate A rests on and is secured to the angle-irons G H. The end plate, H, is projected slightly outward from the peripheral plate A, andis provided at its rim with an inwardly-projected flange, K.

O O are a series of removable clamps, held bysuitable bolts to the angle-iron G. They have their outer ends bent inward, so as to provide a short lip or boss, 0, adapted to engage the end of the shield B. l

B is the shield for holding the elastic block to the perimeter of the wheel. It has its ends bent outward and adapted to flt under and be held by the flange K and the clamp O.

The periphery of the wheel is provided with a series of partitions, D, arranged transversely to the face thereof, and which project outward radially and form a series of small parallelcompartments,1),open attheir outersides, and adapted to receive and hold the elastic blocks a. The outer edges of the partitions D are made to project slightly beyond the inwardly-projecting-lip G ot'clamp O, the latter being so constructed that it slips between two adjacent partitions.

a are the elastic blocks, which are made nearly rectangular in cross-section, so that they fit into the compartments D, and are long enough to extend nearly across the peripheral plate A. They are made large enough to project about one-third of their radial depth beyond the outer edges of the partitions I).

eumferential angle-iron, G, which is riveted I They are held in place by the shields B, which lie flat on the top or outer faces thereof. The bent ends of the shields pass down close to the ends of the elastic blocks and between the adjacent partitions, and are bent outward and under the flange K and the clamp C.

When the whole series of elastic blocks and shields are placed in position and secured, as hereinbefore explained, it will be seen that an almost continuous elastic surface isprovided. The blocks are each separated. Lateral movement or slipping on the peripheryis prevented by the partitions. The ends of the several clamps and the shields fit snugly against the partitions, and when all are in place they are so firmly held and braced that it is impossible for one to be bent forward or backward in the direction of the circumference of the wheel.

If, from any cause, any one of the elastic blocks or shields should become useless, it can easily be replaced by a perfect one without disturbing the position of any of the others.

The axle-box E is provided at its inner end with a circumferential flange, E, which is projected outward at right angles thereto, and is arranged and adapted to lie snugly against the sides of the spokes G, to which it is made fast by suitable bolts. It may be easily removed,'when desired, by first removing the bolts E.

In my invention the. shields are arranged close together, so that practically I have presented an almost continuous metallic perimeter for the wheel. The blocks of rubber have an equal width with the shields, and are so protected that no part of their surface ever comes in contact with the ground. The rubber blockscannotbedisplaced. Theirspringorelastic action is alwaysdirect-lyoutward,because of the controlling power of the partitions. The partitions serve to keep dirt, &c., from getting between the adjacentblocks, and they alsoform substantial walls, between which the rubber blocks are confined and prevented from spreading or expanding laterally when compressed by the weightof the engine. The elastic blocks become gradually firmer, and consequently have a greater resisting power as they are pressed into smaller compass between the partitions. It will be seen that I have furnished a wheel which has a yielding surface, and at the same time is free from the objectionsto tractionwheels of ordinary construction.

In Fig. 8,1 have shown the manner of constructing the hub of my wheel. The hub is made with a rim at its inner end, projecting at right angles thereto. In this rim I cut the cross-slots to receive the main stem of the T- shaped spoke G. The spoke G is made shaped, as shown, and has its main stem inserted in the slot G while its wings extend laterally along the face of thehub, as shown,

and are firmly secured in place by anysuitable means. Near the opposite or outer end of the hub a circumferential ring, G is provided, to which the center of the end plate, H, is secured.

In the manufacture of my wheel I make the perimeter or peripheral plate A of a series of -shaped sections, D These sections are laid side by side on the angle-irons G H, to which they are made fast. When all are fixed in position they form together the peripheral plate or covering and provide the partitions D. By constructing the wheel in this manner I am enabled to repair broken or injured sections without great cost or muchtrouble.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In a traction-wheel. the combination of the inwardly-projected flange K, removable clamps 0, having their ends bent inwardand arranged on the sides of the wheel opposite to the flange K, the rubber blocks a, placed on the periphery of the wheel, and the shields B, having their ends bent outward and fitting under the flange K and under the inwardlyprojected end of the clamps G, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a traction-wheel, the combinationof the peripheral plate provided with a series of transverse radially-projected partitions, a series of elastic blocks fitting between the adjacent partitions, a shield placed over and covering the elastic blocks, and means for bolding the shield adjustably in place, substantially as set forth.

3. In a traction-wheel, the combination, with.

the series of elastic blocks arranged around and transversely to the surface of the wheel, and means for holding the elastic blocks in place, of a series of partitions arranged transversely to the'face of the wheel, and projected. 

